On the biggest stage with the largest prize pool, Smart Omega Empress made history and showcased the strength and skill of Filipinas to the world.
Facing a team that had won the championship in every tournament they participated in for almost three years, the young Filipinas delivered a clinical performance.
And their monumental efforts brought home the MLBB Women’s Invitational 2024 title to the Philippines with a 3-0 victory over tournament favorites Team Vitality in the grand finals on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It was sweet revenge for the Empress after the Bigetron Era-bannered Indonesian team – now playing under Team Vitality – completed a comeback from a 2-1 series deficit to snatch away the gold medal from the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games last year.
The Filipinas also improved from their third-place finish in last year’s staging and dethroned the two-time champions to claim their historic first international title.
The Smart-backed squad banked on Gwen “not ayanami” Diagon’s (Edith) peskiness in the opener. She finished with a 4-1-2 KDA to spearhead an 11-minute demolition of Team Vitality, taking the series lead 1-0.
After a rousing opener, Smart Omega stepped on the gas in Game 2 with Kaye Maerylle “Keishi” Alpuerto exploding for a perfect 7-0-2 KDA that set the tone for a 14-minute victory, reaching match point at 2-0.
In Game 3, the Empress turned a close early game in their favor with a 2-0 pickoff during the 9th-minute lord fight, led by not ayanami’s (Barats) initiation, securing their win and the championship title.
